Hamilton hurt in Bruins win

Steve Conroy Sunday, December 08, 2013

TORONTO--The injury-riddled Bruins got goals from Carl Soderberg, Torey Krug, Kevan Miller (his first NHL goal and the game-winner), Jarome Iginla and Patrice Bergeron (empty-netter) to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-2, at the Air Canada Centre, and jump back into first place in the Eastern Conference last night.

But the news wasn't all good.

Dougie Hamilton left the game with a lower body injury in the first period and is headed back to back Boston in the morning for evaluation.

“We'll see what the outcome is there, but it doesn't look like he'll be playing with us for this coming week,” said Julien. “Based on the original diagnosis is that he's probably done for at least a week.”

Julien said that there's a chance that Johnny Boychuk, carted off on a stretcher just last Thursday in Montreal, could practice with the team in Calgary today and be ready to play against the Flames on Tuesday. If not, a call-up from Providence would have to be made. That decision will be made in the morning.

It appeared as though they wold also be losing Miller, too, after Dion Phaneuf drilled him, head first into the end boards on a delayed panelty call against the B's with 2:17 left in the game. But though Miller was unavailable for comment, Julien called it "minor" and he expected him to be ready for Tuesday's game in Calgary.

But Julien, like many watching the game, was perplexed as to why there was no penalty.

“I just asked the question,” said Julien. “Sometimes they have better angles than we do, but from my bench view I thought it was one of those (hits from behind) and they didn't call it. It's tough because you have to call it right on the spot and I can stand here and say I thought it was a penalty. They may look at it and say 'Maybe I should have called it.' But it was another one where Millsy had to leave. It's very minor and it shouldn't impact him from playing with us the next game. But it's a close call. He went head first int the boards.”...